incredulous

adjective

(ˌ)in-ˈkre-jə-ləs How to pronounce incredulous (audio)
Definition of incredulousnext
1
as in skeptical
inclined to doubt or question claims incredulous by nature, I'm of course very suspicious of anyone who claims to be able to communicate with the dead

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in incredible
too extraordinary or improbable to believe an incredulous account of alien abduction that the tabloids had a field day with

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of incredulous On several occasions, Lakers players were incredulous after calls — or no-calls — from the crew. — ABC News, 8 May 2026 His comments prompted jeers and incredulous laughs. — Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 28 Apr. 2026 The judge, Cedric Simpson, was incredulous. — Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 26 Mar. 2026 Fellow vegans in the comments were incredulous — what of the bear cub carcass Kennedy claimed to have dumped in Central Park or his lifelong interest in hunting? — Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 26 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for incredulous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incredulous
  1. skeptical
  2. incredible
  3. suspicious
  4. unlikely
  5. cautious
  6. impossible
  7. disbelieving
  8. unbelievable
Adjective
  • Many critics remain skeptical that this artist’s debut, or any artist’s debut, deserved to be in the Louvre.
    — Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Brett Siegel, an NBA reporter with Clutch Points, is skeptical.
    — Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of skeptical
Adjective
  • Below, shop nine incredible beauty products straight from her shelf and prepare to get healthy, smooth, and absolutely glowing skin.
    — Olivia Cefalu, InStyle, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Esponda almost came off the beam on two occasions, but showed incredible fight to salvage the routine.
    — Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of incredible
Adjective
  • Maybe someone noticed a person acting suspicious, heard a fight, saw someone leaving the area or remembers a detail that seemed insignificant at the time.
    — Simcha Itzkowitz, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • CyberGuy's guide to protecting yourself from social media scammers includes more ways to evaluate suspicious accounts.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of suspicious
Adjective
  • After 40, about half are abnormal and unlikely to result in pregnancy.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
  • There is even a brief potential window for a few tiny raindrops in the Sacramento area Wednesday, although any rain on the radar is unlikely to reach the ground.
    — Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of unlikely
Adjective
  • As the use of AI increases, financial experts say consumers should be cautious about fully trusting these tools.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The Fed may be more cautious about raising interest rates at a time when the labor market appears less stable.
    — Scott Horsley, NPR, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of cautious
Adjective
  • The visions of Dreamers can be fraught with symbolism and almost impossible to understand.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
  • In many situations, landing a drone to replace a battery can be too dangerous or simply impossible.
    — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of impossible
Adjective
  • Muchová went up 3-1 early with a crouching forehand volley that just plopped inside the court, prompting applause from Gauff and a disbelieving shake of the head from Muchová.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 9 July 2026
Definition of disbelieving
Adjective
  • Yet the procedural is so formulaic and the twists so unbelievable that even the most lackadaisical viewer will likely solve the mysteries long before the truth is revealed.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Deception has always existed in business, but AI has magnified it to unbelievable levels.
    — Muhamad Aly Rifai, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of unbelievable

Browse Nearby Words

incredulity
incredulous
incredulously
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Cite this Entry

“Incredulous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incredulous. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of incredulous for Spanish Speakers

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